N.Korea to Stage Military Parade on Eve of Pyeongchang Olympics

North Korea will stage a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the standing army on Feb. 8, just a day before the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang start in here.

Travel agencies specializing in North Korea tours are capitalizing on the events.

Paektu Cultural Exchange, a Canadian organization in China promoting exchanges with North Korea, advertises a five-day package tour to the North to attend the parade. Tickets will be on sale until Jan. 31.

Visitors will depart from Dandong, China on Feb. 5 and tour Kaesong and the border truce village of Panmunjom before watching the parade in Pyongyang on Feb. 8.

The five-day train tour costs a hefty 1,190 euros per person. An added option is to fly back to Shenyang, China and then fly to South Korea for the Olympics on Feb. 9.

Diplomatic sources said North Korea's Samjiyon Orchestra has told South Korea that it will hold a concert in the South on Feb. 16, which is the birthday of former leader Kim Jong-il.

The orchestra seems to be a reincarnation of the Samjiyon Band, launched in 2009 at the orders of Kim senior, which specializes in patriotic and revolutionary tunes.